CWA Local 4340 Proposed Amended Charter And Proposed By Laws Changes Proposed Amended Local 4340 Charter
Overall work performed by employees eligible for Union membership employed by AT&T and its business units (formerly SBC, Ameritech Inc., and Ohio Bell) All AT&T Network Operation, Central Office, NCSC call center, GNAC center, NAFG center, Internet Services, Broad band video technicians, Digital Life, all current and future I.P. based services, Uverse, AT&T Datacom, AT&T Legacy T, Legacy S, Network distribution centers, and any future Network Subsidiaries, Technologies and functions located in Greater Cleveland Ohio, and all lawfully organized future bargaining units.
All public, private sector and contractor employees organized by Local 4340 in Cuyahoga, Ashtabula, Stark, Lake, Geauga counties and throughout the continental United States, including but not limited to Avaya, YP holdings, Lake County Commissioner’s, Lake County Prosecutors, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Dept. Geauga County Engineer and Water Resources, Lake-Geauga Head Start, Saybrook Township, Cleveland EMS, Olmsted Twp. Maintenance dept., Lake County Sheriff’s Dept., Merrick House, Community Housing Solutions, Help Inc., Phillis Wheatley Assc., Solidarity Health Network, Promotional Solutions, Tomeks Landscaping, H&L Utility Service Inc., Jacobs Telephone, Allied Cable Construction, RCB Industries, South Shore Cable Inc., DBS Communications Inc., Installation Services, TXI Inc., Black Box Network Services of Oh, Universal Cabling Systems Inc., Richardson Telecommunications, D&S Utility Construction Inc., Southeast Security, NCS Datacom, Shortage Control Inc., Johnson Controls World Serv Inc., GTS Communications & Cabling Co., J&L Electronic Services Inc., Black Box of Network Serv of Mi., Professional Teleconcepts Inc., Westshore Communications, DNS Technologies Inc., Tucker Technology Inc., Krueger Town Inc., U.S. Utility, Thayer Power and Communication, Progressive Solutions Inc., G.R, Osterland, Connect USA, JKS Communications, Krueger Broadcast Serv., Tri-State Audio Visual LLC, Shore Connect One, Guernsey Muskingum Co Op. All Printing Sector Employees Organized by Local 4340 including but not limited to, Michalske Printing Co., Qwestcom Graphics Inc., Ray’s Printing Service, Phil Vedda & Sons Inc., Holmes Printing, Daily Legal News, Brothers Printing Inc., Ameriprint LLC., and Cleveland Newspaper Guild.
A special Thank you to Tom Sinclair for his efforts in helping the Membership Committee update our Local charter.
What are By-Laws ?
By-Laws are the rules of how CWA Local 4340 operates on a daily basis as well as elections, membership, and even how our meetings are formatted. The By-Laws have not been updated for over 20 years, we as a local needed to update our By-Laws to make them more relevant for today’s environment. Local By-Laws are required to adhere to the CWA constitution. The proposed changes are in red, the original By-Laws are written in black in the presentation. Only the Articles that have proposed changes are being presented, any Article not included in the presentation have not been recommended for change. CWA Local 4340 Proposed By Laws Changes Article VIII Local Meetings A. Meetings of this Local shall be held as often as the Local shall determine. Notice of the meetings shall be given in advance and shal consist of location, date and time. Meetings may be called by a majority vote of the Local Officers. B. Special Meetings may be called by a majority vote of the Officers or by a petition signed by ten percent (10%) if the Local membership. Upon receipt of a proper petition, the Local Officers shall call a special meeting after 15 days notice has been given to the membership.
C. Robert’s Rules of Order Shall Govern. Article X Directors, Chief Stewards, Stewards, Committee Chairs and Committee Members A. The Local shall have the following regular committees. 1. Education Committee 2. Election Committee 3. Organizing Committee 4. Legislative Committee 5. Membership Committee or Committees 6. Community Service Committee 7. Equity/Women’s Committee 8. Safety Committee B. Directors, Chief Stewards, Stewards, Committee Chairs and Committee Members shall be recommended for appointment by the President of the Local, subject to the right of the Local to overrule such appointments. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. Appointees may be removed by majority vote of the Local Executive Board, subject to the right of the Local to overrule the action. C. Duties of Committee- 1.The Education Committee shall assist in developing the Local’s educational program and with the Local Officers be responsible for effectuating the Union’s and Local’s education programs. 2. Election Committee- The Election Committee shall be responsible for the conduct of all nominations, elections, and referenda of this Local. 3. Organizing Committee- The Organizing Committee shall assist the Local Officers and members in organizing all non-union employees within the Local’s jurisdiction.
4. Legislative Committee- The Legislative Committee shall assist in developing and pursuing the program of the Union and the Local in the legislative field. It shall be responsible for the Local’s program to register each qualified voter. 5. Membership Committee- The Membership Committee or Membership Committes shall accept or reject membership applications in accordance wit the By-laws and Rules of this Local, and the Constitution and policies of the Union. 6. Community Service Committee- The Community Service Committee shall assist in developing all Community Service programs. 7. Equity/Women’s Committee- The Equity/Women’s Committee shall be responsible for all investigations brought to the union regarding any discriminatory or harassment issues of race, color, gender, religion, age, marital/parental status, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national orgina, or because a person is handicapped, a disabled veteran of the military or pregnancy. The Equity/Women’s Committee shall investigate all concerns brought to the union as requested by membership.
8. The Safety Committee shall be responsible for the elimination/minimization of our members exposure to hazardous working conditions and potentially related injuries, illness and fatalities.
Article XIII Nomination and Election Of Local Officers Section 1- Nominations Local Officers shall be nominated in the month of September every three years. Notice that nominations may be made may be posted where notices related to employment are posted or on CWA bulletin boards not less than 15 days prior to the final date for submitting nominations or may be sent by U.S. Mail, postage prepaid to the last known home address of members of the Local. Nominations for Local Officers shall be made by United States certified mail. Each nomination for each Local office shall be signed by the nominee and three percent (3%) of the members of this Local. A deadline date for receipt of the nominations shall be designated and included in the nominating notices. All write-in votes will be void.
Section 2- Elections Election of Local Officers shall be by secret ballot of the membership and conducted by U.S. Mail in the months of October, November or December every three years beginning in 1987. Notice of the election must be sent by U.S. Mail, postage prepaid, to the last known home address of each member of the Local not less than 15 days prior to the election. All write-in votes will be void. Section 3- Local Election Committee
A. The Election Committee Shall the responsibility of directing the conduct of the nomination and election of Local Officers and delegates to the CWA Convention. This committee shall have the authority and responsibility to see that nominations and elections are conducted in accordance with the Union constitutions, rules of the Local and these By-Laws. B. The Election Committee shall also be responsible for directing the conduct of any referenda submitted to the membership. Section 4- General Provisions A. The nominee in any election receiving the majority of the votes cast shall be declare elected. If no one nominee has a majority on the first ballot, the vote shall be taken again and the two nominees having the greatest number of votes on the first ballot shall be nominees on the second ballot. B. Only members of the Local in good standing shall be eligible to vote or hold office. C. The term of office shall be for three years. D. The Officers shall take office on December 31 in the year in which they were elected. E. Retirement shall be mandatory for full time officers of the Union after reaching age 70 upon the expiration of their current term of office. Section 5- Vacancies Vacancies in all offices shall be filled by appointment by the Executive Board in accordance with the Union Constitution. Article XIX Oath of Office Each elected Officers of the Local, after meeting all other qualifications, shall be required to take the following oath: “I (give name) hereby accept the office (name of office) of Local (give local number), Communications Workers of America, with full knowledge of the responsibilities and duties of such office. I promise to faithfully discharge my duties according to the By-Laws and rules of the Local and the Constitution and policies of the Union. I further promise to give my successor in office all books and records in my possession. I promise to release passwords, keys, books and social media accounts branded as CWA Local 4340 and act in a transitional manner until the end of my term to my successor. I shall at all times endeavor to serve my Local and the Union to the best of my ability, so help me God”. Remove wording in blue and replace with wording in red.
Article XX Adoption
A. Any amendment to these by laws shall be adopted upon the approval of a majority of the members voting upon on their adoption by referendum. B. The By-Laws shall be reviewed biannually after the CWA National Convention has concluded, or as requested by membership. Article XXI Social Media
All postings on CWA Local 4340 official media websites are to be approved by the Local Executive Boad, subject to the right of the local membership to overrule. CWA Local 4340 official websites may not be used for campaigning for any local elected office positions. CWA Policy on Mutual Respect The CWA Policy on Discrimination is as follows: (Now incorporated into these Local By-laws)
1. The Communications Workers of America reaffirms its commitment as a matter of principle and policy that all forms of discrimination, for whatever reason, be vigorously opposed until all vestiges of discrimination are eliminated from society.
2. Freedom from discrimination within our Union is a right and privilege of all CWA members. Any abridgement of this right and privilege shall be subject to a charge pursuant to Article XV of these Local By-laws. 3. In restating our policy for conduct within our Union, it is equally important that our employers reflect this policy so that neither the Company nor the Union shall unlawfully discriminate against a person on account of race, color, gender, religion, age, marital/parental status, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or because a person is handicapped, a disabled veteran, or a veteran of the military service. This means what it says: “No form of Discrimination will be tolerated at any level of CWA.”
4. Any matter which relates to the field of discrimination should be immediately and appropriately handled by the appropriate level of the Union that comes across the allegation of discrimination. It should be handled thoroughly in an honest and positive manner.
5. It is a matter of principle that no one member is more equal than another. The handling of the representation of our members at all levels of CWA should be done in an evenhanded way with no fear; no preference; no favorites.
6. Local Equity and Women’s Committees can play a positive role by providing continuous education training assistance and by reporting to the members of the Local on the ways and means of eliminating discrimination in its entirety.
7. CWA Constitutional Committees should be representative of the Union. Local CWA Constitutional Committees should be representative of all the Local membership and should be active committees, not paper committees.
8. The Union policy is to have a job stewards that will be reflective and representative of the entire membership of each Local.
(Adopted by the National CWA Executive Board June 11, 2002; revised December 17, 2009)
By-Laws/Membership Committee
Keith Estes Advisor Ed Phillips Advisor Tom Sinclair Advisor Linda Burns Bob Fenton James Kane Untill Prewitt Michael Williams
Please email your questions, comments or concerns to the above email address. The Committee will then discuss and address any of those items individually as a committee. Thank you.
In Solidarity,
By-Laws/Membership Committee members